Football

Link, Moore, Spence Named All-New England

Dec 03, 2013

FAIRFIELD, Conn – Following a historic 2013 season for the Sacred Heart football team, running back Keshaudas Spence (Dorchester, MA), offensive lineman Paul Link (East Greewich, RI), and defensive lineman Troy Moore (Worcester, MA) have all been named to the FCS All-New England team, as voted by the New England Football Writers' Association Monday evening. Last season, just one Pioneer, linebacker Tyler Foehr, earned All-New England honors.

On his way to breaking the Sacred Heart single-season rushing record in 2013, Keshaudas Spence ran for 1,669 yards and 13 touchdowns. Spence currently ranks second in the NEC in rushing yards and 6th in all of the FCS. With his 22-yard touchdown run in a week 12 win over Duquesne, Spence broke Ed Pricolo's 2004 single season rushing record (1,339 rush yards). The junior running back is now just 87 yards shy of Pricolo's all-time Sacred Heart rushing record of 3,052 career yards. Spence ran for a career high 211 yards in a 59-36 win over Central Connecticut State on October 12th. The workhorse back all season long, Spence also broke the Sacred Heart single-season rushing attempts record with 281 carries this season. In the Pioneers' FCS PLayoff loss at Fordham, Spence ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

A captain this season, OL Paul Link was a vital cog for a Sacred Heart rushing attack that averaged 235.8 yards per game, ranking first in the NEC and 13th best in the country. Under Link's leadership, the SHU offensive line yielded just 9 sacks in 12 games this season, once again tops in the conference. The O-Line did not allow a sack in the final four games of the season.

Troy Moore was a key part to a Sacred Heart defensive line that led the NEC in sacks (41), tackles for loss (120), and rushing defense (110.4 yds/gm). Sacred Heart's 120 tackles for loss led the entire country. Starting all 12 games for SHU, Moore finished the regular season first on the team with 8.5 sacks, and second on the team with 16.5 tackles for loss. The Massachusetts native was named NEC Defensive Player of the Week after a three sack, six tackles for loss performance at Bryant on October 18th.